Drive mechanism for multiwheelers



Oct. 4 1927.

A. l. MARCUM DRIVE MECHANISM FOR MULTIWHEELEH Filed July 22, 1926 gwuwntoz affozueq Patented a. 4,1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

an'rnun r. MARCUM, or OAKLAND, cannonma, assxcnon- 'ro nuonx wmsmr, or

MACON, GEORGIA.

DRIVE MECHANISM FOR MULTIWHEELEBS.

' Application filed July 22, 1926. Serial No. 124,158.

This invention relates to a drive mechanism for multi-wheel vehicles.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a construction in which the propeller shaft is arranged between the upper and lower edges of the axle housings, to provide a maximum road and body clearance.

A further object of the, invention is to provide a construction in which the propeller shaft is located beneath the horizontal plane that contains the axes of the axles.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a drive mechanism for a motor vehicle of extreme simplicity that embodies Hypoid gears.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a construction in which the drivin shaft is readily accessible.

urther objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds with reference to the drawing in which the single figure is a longitudinal sectional view t rough the driven axles of a six or eight wheel vehicle;

In the figure 1 and 2 are wheels of the tandem arranged driven axles of a multi-wheeled vehicle, 3' and 4 the master gears on the differential housings that serve to differentially drive the several wheels on each axle, this 90 construction being that usually employed for the stated purpose. As shown the master gears 3 and 4 are encased by the usual axle housings 5 and 6.

The propeller shaft 7 of the motor is carried directly through the housin s 5 and 6 being journaled in earings 8 an 9, 10 and 11, arranged in said housings. As is customary said shaft includes universal joints 12 and a slip joint 13 to allow the necessary relative movement between the axles as the wheels pass over road irregularities. As shown on the drawings said shaft is prefer- -ably arranged below the horizontal plane that contains the axes of the axles, but above 4.5 the lower limits of the housings.

Shaft 7 has fixed thereto gears 14 and 15 that mesh with master gears 3 and 4. These gears are of the Hypoid type such as described in the June 1926 number of the J ournal of the Society of Automotive Engineers.

A torque tube 16 of the construction described in copending application Serial No.

743,201, serves to connectthe axle housings and to resist the torque reactions. As shown in the drawings, the torque tube is preferably. arranged above the drive shaft and the axis v in the same vertical thereof is preferabl plane as the axis 0 the drive shaft under normal conditions.

By the arrangement above described the drive shaft is brought wholly within the limstraight line.

through said housings un er normal conditions between horizontal planes tangent to said master gears and journaled in the h0uslngs .at a plurality of points spaced along.

said shaft, and gears meshin with said master gears secured to said sha t.

2. The combination defined in the claim immediately receding in which the continuous flexible rive shaft is arranged between the axle axis and the horizontal plane that is tangent to a horizontal plane containing a master gear at its lowest point.

3. In combination with a pair of tandem drive axles supportin ings, each axle inclu in a master drivin gear, of a continuous exible drive sha extending through and journaled in the sides of' said housings between the horizontal planes tangent to said master gears, gears on said shaft meshing with said master gears,

load carrying housand a torque resisting connection extending between said housings and located substantially between said planes.

4. The combination defined in the claim immediately preceding in which the axis of drive shaft is positioned beneath the horizontal plane containing the axes of the axles and the torque resisting, connection is positioned above said plane.

5. A road vehicle ineluding'tandem axles, one of which istangent to the master gears supporting one end thereof, load supporting and theother'of which includes 'theaxes off housings on said axles, a master driving gear the axles, and hearings in said housings ar- 10 secured to each axle, a flexible drive shaft ranged atopposite sides of each' of said last li'extendin continuously through said housnamed" gears. v I I q ings an carrying gears meshing with said In testimony'whereof I aifixmy si ature. master gears between two "horizontai'planes 1 ARTHUR LMAR UM; 

